RICS Chartered Surveyors Ely Cambridgeshire
Approximate Population: 15,102
Sir Clive Woodward, rugby union player and Rugby World Cup 2003 winning manager with England national rugby union team was born in Ely, as was Autogiro world record holder Ken Wallis and actor Simon MacCorkindale. Other notable people from Ely include The Sisters of Mercy singer Andrew Eldritch, and Australian émigrée actor Guy Pearce. Folk singer Boo Hewerdine and crime writer Jim Kelly both currently live in Ely.
Former England football player Gary Lineker currently lives in Ely with Model girlfriend Danielle Buxton. Noted press photographer Gareth Iwan Jones, lived in Ely between 1989-1999. The creators of Lethal Cocktail, Alexander and James Andrews and Carl Skipper are also based within Ely.
In the spring of 2008 a competition was held to find an official anthem for the City of Ely. The competition was sponsored by The Ely Standard, ADEC and Star 107 radio. Judges from around the town and local music scene evaluated the entries and after much deliberation chose Ship of the Fens as the winner. Written by local song writing duo Graham Brown and Geoff Meads, “Ship of the Fens” (a local nick-name for Ely Cathedral) describes life in Ely from the point of view of an elderly resident returning to the city.
Using a modern folk style in a homage to the popular Ely folk festival and recorded using all local musicians and singers, “Ship of the Fens” was first aired on Star 107s Mark Peters breakfast show on 19 June 2008 and performed live at the 2008 Ely Aquafest on 6 July 2008.